The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment Inspiring research & leadership that ensures clean abundant water for the environment & all humanity

Join all the cool kids for our FREE Conservation Club Family Fun Day this September 19! From 11 a.m.–3 p.m. we’ll have o...
09/09/2026

Join all the cool kids for our FREE Conservation Club Family Fun Day this September 19! From 11 a.m.–3 p.m. we’ll have our friends from Parks and Wildlife and What Goes Here Flows Here giving us special lessons on stewardship and conservation! 🐢

Learn easy tips for building daily conservation habits. Then stick around for fun, hands-on activities, and get creative with crafts the whole family can enjoy.

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 Headwaters Lawn at Spring Lake

Bring the kids and join the fun! 💚

Join all the cool kids for our FREE Conservation Club Family Fun Day this September 19! From 11 a.m.–3 p.m. we’ll have o...
09/09/2026

Join all the cool kids for our FREE Conservation Club Family Fun Day this September 19! From 11 a.m.–3 p.m. we’ll have our friends from Texas Parks and Wildlife and What Goes Here Flows Here giving us special lessons on stewardship and conservation!

Learn easy tips for building daily conservation habits. Then stick around for fun, hands-on activities, and get creative with crafts the whole family can enjoy.

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 Headwaters Lawn at Spring Lake

Bring the kids and join the fun! 💚

🏈 Game day starts at Spring Lake!Headed to the I-35 Showdown this Saturday? Wear a TXST shirt and get the TXST ticket ra...
09/07/2026

🏈 Game day starts at Spring Lake!

Headed to the I-35 Showdown this Saturday? Wear a TXST shirt and get the TXST ticket rate on a glass-bottom boat tour!

Come fill the boats with maroon before cheering on the Bobcats against UTSA! 🚤

⭐️ Visitor Review ⭐️"We went to the Meadows Center’s glass-bottom boat tours on a weekend, and it was a really nice spot...
09/05/2026

⭐️ Visitor Review ⭐️

"We went to the Meadows Center’s glass-bottom boat tours on a weekend, and it was a really nice spot for kids and families. It’s also a good place to take someone visiting the Austin/San Marcos area if you want something easy and different.

The boat ride is calm and relaxing, and through the glass bottom we saw fish and some turtles, which the kids really enjoyed. Right across from the boat ride area, there’s also an indoor aquarium/exhibit area with more fish and turtles, so don’t leave immediately after the ride.

Overall, it’s a simple but fun weekend plan."

Thank you for the 5-star Google review, Firsthand View! 💙

Plan your visit: www.ExploreSpringLake.org

09/05/2026

It's not ✨pier pressure✨, it's just the truth 💅

09/02/2026

Sometimes the last minute boat rides are the most peaceful moments of the day. Come take a breather with us out on the water. 🧘

Join the restoration crew! Sign up to volunteer with on Sept. 12 and help restore habitat at Spring Lake. Volunteers m...
09/01/2026

Join the restoration crew! Sign up to volunteer with on Sept. 12 and help restore habitat at Spring Lake.

Volunteers may remove invasive aquatic plants, plant native species, manage vegetation along the boardwalk, or assist with kayak-based restoration.

📅 Sept. 12 | 9–11:30 a.m.
🙌 No experience needed
🌿 Good deeds guaranteed

Come lend a hand and help keep this one-of-a-kind ecosystem thriving!

🔗 Sign up: https://bit.ly/4h3AJ5F

⭐️ Visitor Review ⭐️"The Meadows Center is such a peaceful and interesting place to visit in San Marcos. The glass-botto...
08/29/2026

⭐️ Visitor Review ⭐️

"The Meadows Center is such a peaceful and interesting place to visit in San Marcos. The glass-bottom boat tour was definitely the highlight. The water is beautiful. You can see the fish and springs below, and the students who guide the tour do a great job sharing the area's history and ecology. There’s also plenty of nature to explore and an aquarium to visit afterward. Great for adults and families alike, and we came away with some wonderful memories and pictures. Definitely worth visiting!"

Thank you for the 5-star Google review, Raj H! 💙

Plan your visit: www.ExploreSpringLake.org

08/28/2026

Back by popular demand: More Spring Lake otter content! 🦦 Apparently, this log is the place to be at Spring Lake! Big thanks to our environmental interpreter, Heath Ratermann, for sending us this new clip!

What Spring Lake wildlife should we keep an eye out for next? 👀

📸 SPOTTED: Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)! This spider is commonly found across North America in open grassy ar...
08/27/2026

📸 SPOTTED: Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)!

This spider is commonly found across North America in open grassy areas or woodlands. Its circular web can reach up to 2 feet in diameter and features a bold zigzag pattern at the center, where the spider waits for prey.

These spiders are large but not aggressive! They might bite if grabbed, but their bite is comparable to a bee sting and may cause redness or swelling.

Female yellow garden spiders have bold black-and-yellow bodies and long, striped legs. They can be 3-4 times larger than males, one of the most extreme size differences among North American spiders (girl power!).

With the males being significantly smaller and less colorful, the two spiders' genders almost look nothing alike!

Comment if you have ever seen a yellow garden spider before!

Address

201 San Marcos Springs Drive
San Marcos, TX
78666

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15122459200

Website

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